Once Jade left, Zebulon took Rian to Alvaro's place. Rian stood beside Zebulon Staring at the motel with wide eyes. He had only heard about it but seeing it made him feel uncomfortable. He never thought of being in a motel. Life sure knows how to throw people at the places they least expected.
"Are you sure we are at the right place?" Rian asked.
"Yes, now follow me," Zebulon ordered him.
"Think again."
"If you don't want your family to find out then this is the best place."
"I am thinking what they will do if they ever found me here."
Zebulon walked inside making Rian follow him. On his way, he saw the things that he certainly didn't think he would ever see. Zebulon opened the room and got inside Alvaro's office. Alvaro who is already used to his client's usual greetings smiled. He looks at the Rian with a wicked smile.
"Is he here for pleasure or to be a toy?" Alvaro question. Rian shivered under his gaze and protested.
"Not for any of those reasons."
"Give him room to stay and keep those ladies away, he is minor," Zebulon ordered.
"Ah, understand. I will so as you say." Alvaro nodded.
He called one of his men and ordered him to show Rian around. Rian followed the guard out not liking the look from Alvaro. Once he was gone, Zebulon leaned on the chair.
"When the trading of kids happens tell him crucial information. And make sure he is safe, his death can lead to your demise," said Zebulon.
"Come on man, you are my special client. I assure you he will be safe until something goes wrong during festivals." Alvaro promised.
"I will be there."
Making payment Zebulon walked to the room assigned to Rian. He found him sitting on the head staring at the wall. Noticing Zebulon he stood up nervously.
"Thank you for help." Rain said.
"Don't thank me. I have a work for you. The children similar to those you saved will be exchanged here with money. Find as much information as you can and try to save them."
"I understand but how will I go back after saving kids?"
Zebulon hands him a magic stone. Explaining how it works he let Rian take it. Rian looked at the shiny stone like a baby getting a new toy to play with.
"Now if you don't mind then give me a reason if you running away." Zebulon question and sadness enveloped Rian.
"I was useless so I got kicked out."
"Fine then make yourself useful here."
Rian for a minute thought that this person had no heart and his words hit him hard. He is right. The familiar sadness enveloped him.
Maybe next time he won't be a loser.
"I want to awaken my spirit animal but it never worked," confessed Rian a bit embarrassed. Instead of judgment Zebulon looked at him blankly thinking about what Jade found interesting in this foolish boy. Zebulon didn't like the idea of it.
"So what is the big deal? You have other powers, use them and develop them instead. You never need to be perfect just be useful enough."
Zebulon's words made sense to him. Rian realized how many years he had wasted thinking he would never be able to use powers like his people. But if wasn't for his wind power he would have never been able to save those kids. Rian pressed his palm on his forehead. Having a spirit is a big deal for him and his territory but it wasn't necessary to become a leader. There is only Phoenix born in the generation and he didn't have to be one.
Zebulon smirked knowing Rian understood what he needed to for years. Hopefully that will be enough. He left him alone in his thoughts while forming a mental plan to awaken young Phoenix.
Rian decided to train himself once more to master his wind power. Something is better than nothing.
...
Jade and Valerie reached the black market in front of a famous motel. They both paused not knowing what to think about it.
"I will check around, You go in master, and clarify the situation."Said Valerie disappearing. She ditched Jade again and Jade shook her head letting her go.
Jade got in and was greeted by the ladies on their way out. One of them smiled at her.
"Do you come here for work?"She questioned Jade.
"Oh no. I came here to meet the owner I have some work." Jade quickly dismissed her. The woman chuckled and gave her a direction.
"Although Alvaro is a bit much, he is a good man." said the woman.
"I will keep it in mind and thank you," Jade said politely and made her way to the office.
Using the ID given by her father she got entry into the Office. Alvaro looks at the young girl in surprise. This is the first time a girl came by herself. Before he can make assumptions Jade cuts his thoughts off.
"The selling of kids will happen here, do you know who the person is?" Jade asked.
"I don't know. But how do you know about this place?" Alvaro couldn't help but ask. No one knew about it and she shouldn't care.
"I have my ways. Anything else you can say about the man?"
"I don't give information for free so how much you are willing to pay," Alvaro asked with a smirk. Jade's sword pointed at his neck causing him to turn stiff. He felt the darkness creeping up. Alvaro wasn't even able to notice the moment. The girl is dangerous he understood.
"Death or information." Jade offered. Alvaro chuckled when Zebulon's face came into his mind, she was the second one after him who dared to threaten him. He doesn't mind at all.
"I don't know much but he will meet me before the deal that's all."
"I will be here at the time of the tournament," Jade told him, taking her sword off him. Alvaro nods.
Once Jade left a smirk formed on Alvaro's lips. Things will be interesting during the final tournament but not there instead at his place. Later in the day, Alvaro felt an evil presence entering his place, and another man walked in. His face was hidden under the mask and the hood covered his head. Alvaro can sense a bad vibe from him. Alvaro knows who the person is, his client who will be taking kids with him. He is early.
"Everything is prepared?" He question.
"Yes, sir but you may run into some trouble," Alvaro said.
"Whoever gets in the way will die."
His tone made a shiver run down Alvaro's spine. The man is not joking. But his voice sounds monstrous making him almost regret his decision for this whole thing. If it wasn't for Zebulon he didn't have to get caught up in this mess. It was Zebulon who gave him money to let them do their business here so he could catch them.
Rian felt the evil spirit that he encountered last time. But this one is making him feel sick and the aura is strong making him breathe heavily. Rian couldn't understand his body. Standing up he followed it and stood outside Alvaro's office. He felt sicker, something inside him stirred wanting to come out and kill the evil spirit. Calming himself down he entered inside finding Alvaro with a mysterious masked man. Both of them shot their heads at him.
"He is staying here for a while. Don't mind him he must want something." Alvaro directs their attention to him. Rian wasn't supposed to be here.
"Did you hear something?" The masked man questions Rian.
"The room is enchanted with magic, you can't listen to anything outside," Alvaro said.
The masked man nodded and left the motel once he was gone, Alvaro slumped down feeling exhausted. His senses calmed down but his heart is beating faster. Those people who thought of beating hearts as a sign of falling in love are idiots Alvaro thought. This was fear he felt for the first time even his parent's abuse wasn't this scary. If his father was a monster then this guy was something else.
"That man is the one we were looking for. He has a vibe of evil spirits but worse than them," said Rian, his body calming down.
"Yes, I met him today. I didn't know this person was so damnable."
Alvaro cursed under his breath and warned Rian. "Listen, kid, things will get bad so feel free to go away. I don't think I will be able to protect anyone and Zebulon god I hope he knows what he is doing."
"I am not going away until I save them."
"Then ready to face death. Zebulon is good but I am not sure how much damage it will do."
Rian didn't reply and stared at the wall. His thoughts wander to the past and all the criticism he received. He clenched his fist.
"If that's how I die then so be it. I have nothing to lose."